Akari Makuda had grown up pampered and very spoiled. Refusing to wear nothing but the finest clothes, and drink the finest wines. She was neither as pretty, nor sensible as her younger sister, but she was more vocal and knew how to get what of the entire she wanted.

Akari eyed the photographs on her sister's wall murmuring as she scanned each one carefully. There was a portrait of herself and Hikari hugging one another. Even though Akari was in the front, your eyes were automatically drawn to Hikari and her innocent doe eyes. She grimaced and moved on to examine the much larger and more attractive photo, of the entire Makuda clan. (Author's note; the Makuda clan being all Harvest moon character from previous games, such as island of happiness, Harvest moon cute, Rune Factory, Harvest moon magical melody etc) further down the wall of photos were pictures of Hikari and Yuuki, Hikari and Takeru, Takeru and Akari, Yuuki and Takeru, and finally a picture of the four of them from childhood. Akari gave a small smile at that memory and chewed her lip.

Akari rounded the hallway in a pink dress, she was currently adjusting the lace white ribbon in her hair. Her expression soured, today was the day of the family portrait, the day Akari had been looking forward to for weeks, but the day earlier, Akari had made the mistake of following her brothers up a tree while young Hikari sat on the ground below. Akari and her brothers were supposed to be watching her sister, but Hikari was four, and was able to take care of herself for the most part, right?

Wrong, Hikari had been playing with a delicate china doll, running her hand through its silken curls, when she suddenly got bored. Dropping the doll in disamusment face down in the dirt, she stood up, abandoned her shoes and bonnet and disappeared into the forest to find entertainment elsewhere.

In their desperate attempt to recover their lost sister, the Makuda triplets shimmied down the bark of the tree, ruining their nice clothes, and ensnaring Akari's long silken brown hair in tree snap. Forgetting their sister's shoes and play thing, they ran through the forest in search of Hikari. The farther they got into the woods, the more soiled each child became, with Yuuki in the lead; he was by far the worst.

Thunder clapped and Akari whimpered, securing her grasp on Yuuki's hand and Takeru's sleeve.

"Hikari, come on! Playtime's over, please come back"! Yuuki yelled he was by far the most worried and not about being punished but of his sister's life. Suddenly a small figure came barreling at the three, and both Akari and Takeru shrieked in fear, at that moment lightning struck sending a fearsomely vibrant flash, adding to the animosity and fear the three siblings shared.

Suddenly a slight tug was felt on Yuuki's jacket sleeve and he looked down. Hikari's vibrant eyes were staring up at him, her knee length light brown hair slightly damp from the falling rain. Yuuki noticed how her white dress was stained and she was without shoes.

"Brother, why are you screaming"? She asked. Yuuki took off his jacket, bundling her so she wouldn't get sick and the swept her up in his arms and began carrying her. Akari and Takeru trailed behind, Hikari had her small chin rested on her brother's shoulder and watched her brother and sister walk behind her and Yuuki with wide eyes.

To Akari and Takeru, Hikari's young expression looked smug, when she was actually very concerned. Why wasn't brother carrying them, not her? She could walk just fine on her own… Later that evening Hikari laid in her massive bed, well it was massive to her tiny self. Her long light brown hair was clean, as was the rest of her and she was clothed in a warm night shirt once belonging to Akari when she was young. Hikari fiddled with the pink ribbon that was sewn onto the collar, it was smooth between her fingertips and very distracting. Suddenly her bedroom door opened and Hikari jumped, she was supposed to be asleep. Now she would get into trouble like Yuuki, Akari and Takeru did earlier when they had gotten home… Burrowing her face beneath the light pink covers, someone sat on her bed, and ruffled her brown hair.

"Hey why are you hiding, Hikari? It's only me"… Hikari recognized the sound of her beloved brother's voice and scurried from the protection of the covers. His hair and clothes were wet, but he was smiling.

"Look, Kari what I found in the forest, what you left behind"! He brought his other arm from behind his back and smiled big, obviously impressed with himself. Hikari's wet and slightly muddied china doll was held out before her. Hikari's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates at the sight of her brother's devotion. At only eight years old, he was already so grown up…

What they didn't notice was the two pairs of matching brown eyes watching through the crack of the slightly opened door. Takeru and Akari, with her much shorter brown hair glared enviously at their brother's monumental display of affection towards their bratty little sister. Akari pushed aside her shorter, string bangs in distaste, and then hopelessly tried to smooth the spike of her hair which stuck out in all directions. Her hair having to be cut from its once flawless great length, to this shoulder length atrocity, all due to that terrible tree sap. Lesson being learned, never let uncle Raguna trim your hair, no matter how nice he could shear a sheep, humans were not sheep, and actually cared what their appearance looked like…

"It's not fair, everyone always favorites Hikari over us"! Hissed Akari, Takeru nodded. Yuuki stood up to bid Hikari nodded, and the two siblings harboring bitter feelings, ran down the hall to their bedrooms. Their feet making slight shuffling sounds on the blue carpet…

Now Akari stood eyeing her sister's silky tresses as Hikari played in the nursery, apologizing to her muddied doll that she was sorry she had left her behind, but the fairies had called her away. Akari rolled her eyes and clutched the metal scissors tighter in her hands, she entered the nearly empty nursery.

"Hikari, mother says it's nearly time for our photo, but she wants me to help you with your hair". The child, foolishly believing her older sister carefully this time, rested her doll on the floor and sat patiently on a stool. Akari walked over, taking her long shining hair in her free hand, her eyes gleaming wickedly, and she opened the blade of the scissors…

Akari remembered how much trouble she had gotten in that day, and how she tried to hide the evidence, the scissors and Hikari's discarded hair. Nonetheless, her efforts were in vain. The shorter hair cut actually managed to look even prettier on Hikari then it had long, and the sisters adapted to having short hair, eventually deciding it was simply easier to keep it that way.

"Akari, I know the photos aren't that interesting, I mean you've seen them all a dozen times. Come now, it's time for dinner". Hikari's voiced disrupted her nostalgia and she shook her head. Taking her seat beside Takeru, who in turn sat beside Yuuki, who sat beside Luke, Akari noticed there weren't enough chairs, since Luke had been invited to stay for dinner and fraternize amongst the Makuda siblings in hopes of gaining Yuuki's trust.

"Hikari, where are you going to sit"? Asked Yuuki, voicing his concern as usual. Akari fought her reflexes to roll her eyes as Hikari shrugged.

"I know! Hikari, you can sit on my lap"! Luke perked up cheerfully. Yuuki choked on air.

"She could what"? His protective instincts soon kicked in.

"Yuuki, Yuuki, calm down. I assure you, Luke meant nothing perverse by that, he was just offering a suggestion so we could all somewhat sit together".

"I bet so… You know what Luke; maybe if you went home there would be enough chairs for my sister". Yuuki said venomously, Luke's face fell like a sadden puppy. Hikari walked over and smacked Yuuki in the back of the head with her most fearsome weapon, her wooden spoon.

"Yuuki, don't speak to Luke like that"!

"Ouch, Kari that hurt"!

"Don't ouch Kari me, now I'm going to set out your plates and you guys are going to eat at the table, end of story. You are my guests, and you will dine comfortably"! Hikari snapped, Luke was slightly… Terrified would be the word for it, he had never seen Hikari angry and made a mental note not to upset her again.

Hikari passed out the plates of grilled herb fish and sighed, wiping her hands on her cooking apron. She really was going to have to give Chase a phone call one of these days, and beg and plead for him to give her a few new recipes. Cooking the same things over and over was dull, and Hikari hated dull…

Luke stood up with his plate, and then walked beside her. She gave him a puzzled expression, followed by flashing eyes.

"If you're going to eat standing up, so am I". He then took a bite of his supper and Hikari mimed his actions. Luke was too good for her…

After the final bite of the strawberry short cake had been taken, the Makuda siblings said their goodbyes and Yuuki, Akari and Takeru made their departure. Hikari and Luke began their usual tag team work as a washer and drier, and Hikari peeked out of the window of her home. Dark clouds were rolling in, signaling that the weather forecast for a out of season typhoon was not at all hullabaloo. Setting the last of the plates in the cabinet, Luke took note of the way Hikari was staring at him.

"What is it, Hikari"? He was slightly worried; Hikari had never given him this expression before.

"Something is missing about you"… She snapped his fingers loudly, causing Luke to jump.

"Your fire bandana, it's missing"! Luke touched the top of his head, realizing that in fact, his beloved fire bandanna was missing.

"I must've left it outside, when I was working on your house earlier". He said, taking a step towards the door. Suddenly Hikari's body was pressed against his own, and the door. Luke's face burned red at how close he was to her. She looked up at him defiantly.

"You are my guest, not to mention the one who's fixing my house. I'll get it".

"But, Hikari the storm"… Luke stammered her eyes silenced him; she turned to the door, and opened it, ducking outside. Thunder boomed loudly, and rain began falling loudly. Hikari ducked out from the safety of her overhead porch and into the storm.

Squinting into storm Hikari looked around for the white flaming bandana. Already her clothes were soaking wet and she was drenched. While scanning the property, she thanked God that the roof and door was strong on the barn. Suddenly, she noticed a bright set of unnatural coloring on the branch of one of her cherry trees that was to be dormant for the season. Smiling, thrilled to herself she took off to the tree, being beaten by painful drops of rain in the process. She made it to the tree, grabbing the bandanna and clutching it tightly so the wind wouldn't sweep it away Hikari jumped for joy. Then realized something, the power had gone out in her home, and the only source of light was in the barn. Understanding it was her best decision, she shot out into the dark, heading for the barn. Suddenly a hand clamped down on her wrist, Hikari shrieked and began struggling against her attacker.

"Hikari, it's me"! Luke shouted over the roar of the storm. Hikari quit struggling, and he could feel her glare on him.

"I told you to stay indoors, it's too dangerous"!

"It's too dangerous for you as well! At least if I'm out here, we can die together". Despite being so cold, Luke and Hikari's cheeks warmed.

"Alright, let's go our best bet is the barn for shelter"! Luke nodded even though Hikari couldn't see, and the two ran for the barn. Hikari threw up the barn doors and ushered Luke inside, she then followed. The two proceeded to yank shut the doors, and then stared bewildered at one another. Clover mooed, and continued to chew her cud, not seeming to care about the storm nor the two's arrival. The two exchanged wide eyed looks and did the only rational things they could do, they began laughing.

"That was… EXTREME"! They shouted together, fist pumping. Luke smiled and looked down at Hikari. In the dimness of the lamplight hanging overhead from the ceiling, Hikari looked ravishing. With her soaking wet hair and clothes, clinging to her face and body, how she was breathing heavily, and how she held out her hands, offering to him his beloved bandana, which he took and tied securely to his head. He realized Hikari was his own harvest goddess, both beautiful inside and out…

She was talking on how they should sit on the hay, it was warm and dry and it didn't stink. Luke only caught half of what she was saying; he was so transfixed on the way her lips moved when she spoke.

"Luke, are you even listening to me"? She was waving her gloved hand in front of his face. He then took her by the hand, and pulled her into his chest.

"L-L-Luke, what are you d-doing"? She stammered, he released her slightly, and cupped her chin with his forefingers, guiding her eyes to his.

"Will I burn…? If I kiss you"? He asked her, and then pressed his mouth to hers, in a gentle, chaste kiss. Hikari's eyes widened in surprise, and then slowly closed. She wrapped her arms around his neck. When the separated, Luke smiled, and so did Hikari.

"That was even more extreme, than the storm was"! Hikari nodded, wordlessly. Luke nodded loudly and looked at the pile of hay.

"Let's hit the hay, I'm beat". Hikari nodded and they made their way together, holding hands. Their love was nothing more than an innocent blossom, waiting for its turn to bloom. As Hikari laid her head on Luke's chest, his arm on her back for more comfort and warmth, Luke's breathing became more shallow and quiet.

"Luke"? Hikari murmured quietly, she had to get this in before he fell asleep.

"What is it..."? He asked, his eyes were so heavy.

"That pun, was terrible". She said smiling at his bad joke.

"I know it was"… Luke said dreamily, and then his breathing slowed and slight snores filled the barn. Clover mooed in protest, but Hikari thought it meant something else.

"Yeah… Goodnight to you to, Clover"… And Hikari shifted her position a little more, and shut her eyes.

Wizard looked at the serene moment of Luke and Hikari sleeping. They were doing nothing more but sleeping in the comfort of one another's arms, but to him it felt like an ultimate betrayal. He turned away from the crystal ball, and looked at his bookshelf. He then advanced to it, and removed the leather bounded book of spells and flipped to the precise page. Laying the book on the table, he went to get a piece of parchment and a quill; he then in his signature form of manuscript began writing down the ingredients. When he finished he looked over the list, nodding. He didn't like what he was doing, but it had to be done. He couldn't bear to be left alone again; he couldn't bear to suffer the anguish of the emptiness of his soul, without Hikari that would befall him yet again. Running his finger down the aged paper he sighed. The next day when the storm cleared up, he would begin his search…

To make a Love potion

A sakura seashell

A sparkling white pearl

Shining Yogurt

The blood of a pure maiden

And white satin

Wizard knew it would take quite a while to scavenge all the ingredients, not to mention to even make the potion. But Hikari and her love was worth it, with Hikari by his side… Wizard would never again drown in the dark waters of loneliness and despair…